Letter box



Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNH

RIUFUS'E. LANDRUM, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

LETTER BOX.

Application filed June 26, 1922. Serial No. 570,855.

This invention relates to improvements in:

letter boxes, an object of the invention being to provide an improved construction of box and electric contact whereby the opening of the slot cover or the box cover as well as the closing of either will operate to close an electric circuit and give a. signal so that the owner of the box will be notified.

A further object is to provide a letter box which embodies novel details of construction, which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonably low price, and which will be weatherproof, and neat and attractive in appearance.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved letter box showing the covers in closed position.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical transverse section with the covers opened and the partition partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section at right angles to- Figure 2, but showing the covers closed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box showing the slot cover in open position.

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section through the upper portion ofthe box showing the slot cover partially opened and in the act of making electric contact.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View in section on the line 6-6, of Figure 3. I

1 represents my improved box which is of general oblong shape having an inclined opened upper end, the opening extending partway down the front of the box as indicated at 2. A back 3 is provided. on the box which is larger than the area of the body of the box, and is provided with an opening 4 at its upper portion for hanging the box on a suitable support.

A hinge pin 5 is supported by the back 3 at the upper inner end of the body'l and on this hinge pin 5 a body cover 6 and a slo't cover 7 are both hingedly connected. The body cover 6 is of angular form and when. in closed position covers the opening in the top of the body as well the opening; in the front of the body. and is formed at its edges with flanges 8 which overlap the sides of the box and exclude the weather. This body cover 6 is formed in its upper portion with a mail entrance slot 9 and the cover 7 normally closes said. slot and at its forward edge pro ects beyondthe cover 6 and is preferably provided with a weighted rod 10 Se cured upon the forward upturned end of the cover 7 and terminating short of the ends of said cover, to provide sufficient weight'to cause the cover 7 to fall to closed position and remain in such position.

The body 1 is provided adjacent one side wall with a vertical partition 11 forming a narrow chamber 12 in which a pair of contact disks 13 are located and insulated from the metal of the box. While of course, I may provide various means for insulating the contacts 13, I have illustrated one means as comprising an insulating tube 14c supported on a bolt 15 projecting through the partition 11 and the wall of the box and secured by a nut 16 and a pair of insulating washers 17 are located on the tube 14 back of the contacts 13.

The contacts 13 are preferably of convex formation, the convex surfaces facing each other and between which a contact blade 18 carried by the slot cover 7 has a wiping contact.

This blade 18 projects through a slot 19 in the body cover 6 so that in opening either the body cover 6 or the slot cover 7, the blade 18 is caused to move between the contacts 13 and momentarily close an electric circ-uitincluding a signal 20 and a source of electricity 21. This'circuit is also closed when the slot cover 7 is closed, so that a signal is given to the owner of the box whenever the cover is opened or closed so that he can know when mail is placed in the box or removed therefrom.

It is, of course, to be understood that if desired, the body 'cover may be locked'in any approved manner, and as the lock forms no part of this invention, it is not shown.

A box of this character not only functions to notify the owner when mail is deposited in the box, but it serves as a fraud preventive to notify him in the event of an authorized tampering with the box.

While I have illustrated a bell as the signal 20, it is obvious that any form of signal may be used and I do not wish to be limited to any particular signal.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described Without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and altcrations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mail box, comprising a body having an opening in its upper portion, a cover for said opening having a slot therein, a slot cover, both of said covers. hingedly con nected, an electric contact Within the box, and an electric contact carried by the slot cover and movable past the fixed contact whereby an electric circuit includinga signal is closed when the slot cover is opened or c1osed..,. ,i

2. A mail box, comprising a body having an opening in its upper portion, a cover for said opening having a slot therein, a slot cover, both of said covers hingedly connected, an electric contact within the box, an electric contact carried by the slot cover and movable past the fixed contact whereby an electric circuit including a signal is closed when the slot cover is opened or closed, a hinge pin connected to the box and on which both of said covers are hingedly connected.

3. A letter box, comprising a body having an opening in its top and front, a cover hingedly connected to the body and normally closing said open top and front, said cover having a slot therein, a slot cover hingedly connected, a weight on the slot cover normally holding the same in closed position, an electric contact knife or blade on the slot cover movable through an openingin the first mentioned cover,and an electric contact in the body against wliic-h the blade moves when the slot cover is opened or closed.

4. A letter box, comprising a body having an opening in its top and front, a cover hingedly connected to the body and normally closing said open top and front, said cover having a slot therein, a slot coverv the last mentioned contact.

RUFUS E. LANDRUM. 

